The XC60 and S60 now come with Volvo’s latest- gen diesel engine and are all the better for it. What are they?

XC60 and S60 now come with Volvo’s latest-
gen diesel engine and are all the better for it.
What are they?
The XC60 and S60 may have been around for a
while now but Volvo believes, and rightfully so,
there’s still quite a bit of life in them; enough life,
in fact, to warrant the fitment of new engines and
gearboxes. Without going into the nuts and bolts,
the new four-cylinder, 2.0-litre petrol and diesel
engines are part of Volvo’s latest and modular
Drive-E family and are each available in different
power output versions. Volvo India may not have
made much of a song and dance about the
development but it’s been selling the XC60 and
S60 with the 181bhp D4 version of the new diesel
since July last year. And we’ve finally got our
hands on the cars.
But before we get to the new mechanicals and
their impact on the driving experience, lets quickly
run through all else on the duo. Well, sexy design
remains a highlight on both the XC60 and S60
and they look even more special with the optional
R-Design addenda on them. Things like the black
grille, sportier bumpers, contrast mirrors, 18-inch
wheels and dual exhausts really do take things up
a notch. R-Design cars also get sporty all-black
cabins and fabulously bolstered front seats that
are easily among the best around. Both models
do retain their well-finished original dashboards
that remain unique for their floating centre
consoles. There’s still too many buttons on the
centre console but given that the voice-activated
features on the infotainment systems don’t quite
follow Indian accents, they are much needed. The
good news is that the infotainment systems have
been updated and now feature internet
connectivity and access to various apps. As
before, drivers will also like the option to choose
between one of three themes for the all-digital
instrument screens. As for space and comfort in
the back, the S60 is on par with competitors
while the XC60 continues to feel narrower than
rivals.